Heald College

Highlights

• Oldest business career college in the western U.S. with over 145 years of history
• Associate degrees in business, technology or healthcare possible in as quickly as 18 months
• Graduates often hired by major companies like Wells Fargo, State Farm and SBC
• Online studies an option for some courses
• Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

About the School

Founded in 1863 in San Francisco by Edward Payson Heald from the eastern U.S., Heald College began with a focus on readying students for business careers through a practical, real-world approach. Heald has evolved from its business education roots to expand its offerings to technology and healthcare. The school has also added campuses across the western U.S.

During its 145 plus years, Heald has graduated hundreds of thousands of students, including well-known, accomplished individuals such as A.P. Giannini, founder of Bank of America; "Trader Vic" Bergeron, renowned restaurateur; M.H. de Young, museum founder; and Hiram Johnson, a former California governor.

Academic Programs

An emphasis at Heald is to provide career-oriented programs that can be completed as quickly as possible. Its Associate in Applied Science Degrees, for instance, can be completed in 18 to 24 months. A recently introduced Associate of Arts degree can be earned in 6 to 9 months of study.

Heald also strives to ensure that its students receive a well-rounded education with courses in ethics, history, cultural arts, and others that are designed to enhance a student's career potential.

Available program areas of study at Heald College include:

• Business – Study concentrations can include: accounting, business administration, hospitality and tourism, office skills, sales and marketing, and software technologies. Learning outcomes vary by concentration but encompass goals such as learning terminology, understanding common business processes, developing business plans, applying strategies, researching relevant issues, using appropriate information technologies including software applications and the internet to solve business problems, and more.
• Technology – Program options offered include: computer support, operating system administration, network security, Web design and administration, and learning vendor-specific systems like those from Cisco®. Targeted learning outcomes are many – a few examples include: identifying threats and responding to these; supporting multiple operating system environments; installation and maintenance of networks; creation of secure business infrastructure; communication of issues and concepts with business organization, and more.
• Healthcare – Students can study dental assisting, health information technology, medical assisting, medical insurance billing and coding, and medical office administration. Educational outcomes can include: use of appropriate medical terminology; ensuring accuracy of records; knowing and applying appropriate regulations and standards including those for privacy, data collection, data analysis, and data reporting; use of software applications, and more.
• Legal – Program choices include criminal justice and paralegal. Study outcomes can include: applying relevant terminology; use of software applications and the Internet for problem solving; understanding law enforcement issues; conducting independent legal research; drafting legal documents; identify ethical issues, and more.

Learning Options

As part of Heald's emphasis on accelerating the earning of degrees, the school has four quarters during the academic year. Students can start classes in winter, spring, summer, and fall. Courses are also offered during the day and evening to be accessible to working students.

Students also have a number of different campus locations to select from. Note that not all programs are available at every site.

Students also have the option of online, distance learning at Heald for some courses. These courses are considered equivalent to their on-campus counterparts.

For students who want to transfer to a four-year baccalaureate school, Heald has recently established Associate of Arts degree programs. These second-degree programs can be earned in six to nine months.

Faculty

Faculty have experience working in their fields so that they can pass on their "real-world" knowledge to the students. Faculty are pro-active in ensuring that students are fully prepared for their careers by providing academic learning and hands-on experience.

Student Life

Students have a life commitment from Heald College's Placement staff, who are dedicated to helping graduates and alumni find satisfying careers, even long after graduation.

Heald College campuses play an active role in their communities and help raise funds for community programs. Because the college campuses maintain working relationships with their communities, graduates have opportunities for employment locally.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Knowledgeable financial aid staff assist prospective students in finding loans, scholarships, grants, and jobs from a variety of government and private sources. Students must maintain a specified grade point average and fulfill other requirements of the loan or other financial aid program. Veterans and the children of deceased veterans receive financial assistance because Heald is a member of the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges ("SOC").